Ruddock Drafted Into Tour Squad

Ireland Under-20 captain Rhys Ruddock has been called up to the Ireland summer tour squad in New Zealand. The uncapped Ruddock was taking part in the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina but has been released by Under-20 coach Allen Clarke to join his first senior tour.

Rhys Ruddock gets his opportunity following the broken arm suffered by John Muldoon and the five week suspension given to number 8 Jamie Heaslip for his red card in Saturday's Test against New Zealand.

With both players out of the tour, Ruddock will fly from Argentina immediately and will join the senior squad in Rotorua on Monday evening ahead of the game against New Zealand Maori next Friday (June 18).

The unfortunate Muldoon will undergo surgery on his broken arm in Auckland in the next 24 hours before returning home with Heaslip.

Second row Mick O'Driscoll suffered back spasms which forced him to leave the pitch during the first half of the All Blacks game. The injury has improved and he will continue to receive treatment over the next 48 hours.

Winger Shane Horgan has also recovered from the stomach complaint that prevented him leaving with the balance of the squad from Ireland and has arrived in Rotorua.

He joins hooker Jerry Flannery who flew out to meet up with the squad in New Plymouth following the calf strain he sustained in the Barbarians game.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "We are obviously disappointed to be losing John following his injury. I felt any replacement should be one that would benefit from the experience.

"There were other options in terms of back row replacements, but rather than bring in somebody who we were already aware of and what they could bring (to the squad), we felt Rhys would be a different option.

"He has performed very well for the Ireland Under-20s and with Leinster when he has had the chance to play this season, so this will be a good chance for him to gain experience and we have every confidence in him."

Looking forward to facing England on Sunday, Ireland winger Tommy Bowe said: "We've trained very well this week, we're really excited about the game. It's about going out there and doing whatever we can to get ourselves that win."

Second row Devin Toner previews Ireland's crunch RBS 6 Nations clash with England, saying: "It's a pretty formidable English pack. Attwood and Kruis have played fantastically well. They're well drilled and focused and their scrum and lineout are very good."

Looking forward to facing England this weekend, Ireland back rower Sean O'Brien said: "It's obviously exciting, but it's one game at a time. I don't think there's any more pressure on us than in the first two games. That's the way you have to look at it."

Irish Rugby TV sat down with Ireland Under-20 scrum coach John Fogarty to talk about the U-20 Six Nations so far and Friday's clash with England at Donnybrook. Tickets are on sale on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Shane Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly preview the Ireland v England Legends match which takes place at Donnybrook this coming Saturday (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. All proceeds from the game will go to support the IRFU Charitable Trust and the RFU All Schools Charity.

Watch highlights from the Ireland team announcement press conference as Joe Schmidt reveals the team to play France. Peter O'Mahony says it is good to 'have some big figures back' for Saturday's clash.